Guide for facilitators

This section provides information for those that wish to use the resource. This information is not intended to be directive. We encourage all facilitators to explore the resource and links provided.

The Mike and Vicki Project includes a web-based “choose-your-own-adventure” resource that follows two high school youths, Mike and Vicki, as they plan their weekend and attend a local bush party. In the resource the viewer’s decide which choices Mike will make and discover what the consequences may be, for Mike and those around him. Each choice leads down a different strand of the story. Should Mike take Ecstasy? Should he have a drink? Or should he just go home? You choose and then discover how your choice impacts Mike’s life, his relationship with Vicki, his friends and family.

Within the resource, the individual strands focus on different themes and incorporate a variety of topics, such as communication, relationships, substance abuse and alcohol use. Each strand is laid out in a common fashion with the story line finishing and the next screen posing the question “What just happened?” followed by Fast Facts.

Each strand takes approximately ten minutes to complete, exclusive of the question screens. To facilitate the exploration and use of the resource we have identified a theme for each strand as well as the topics explored within the strand and have include additional discussion questions.

This handbook has two separate components:

A list of the strands including their individual themes and topics.

A detailed overview of each strand including the choice sequence that will guide you through the strand and additional discussion questions relating to the specific strand with resources.

As you explore the resource you may identify additional themes within these strands as well as develop your own questions for discussion. Keep in mind this is a compass, not a map. Any feedback you may have for other facilitators to enhance their use of the resource, please post to facilitators’ stories.

Be aware that this resource depicts realistic scenarios and be cautious of the potential to trigger.

Your blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, is the amount of alcohol in your blood. For example, if a person’s BAC is .05%, that means they have 50 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millitres of blood. Each drink you have within a certain timeframe increases your BAC.

Alcohol moves through your bloodstream to your whole body. Your liver breaks down about 90% of the alcohol, with the remainder passing out of your body unchanged. This process takes about two hours for one standard drink. If you keep drinking during this time, the alcohol stays in your system until your liver is able to process it. So your BAC can rise quickly as you continue to drink. Your BAC will start to drop once you stop drinking, but it takes longer to fall than it does to rise.

Understanding the Effects of Alcohol On Driving

Alcohol decreases a person’s ability to drive a motor vehicle safely. The more you drink, the greater the effect. The amount of alcohol required to become impaired differs according to how fast you drink, your weight, your gender, and how much food you have in your stomach. Because of these variables, the safest choice is always not to drink and drive.

Effects of drinking alcohol

Having any amount of alcohol in the blood can cause poor judgment and slowed reflexes. BAC and the effects of drinking alcohol vary from person to person and depend upon body weight, the amount of food eaten while drinking, and each person’s ability to tolerate alcohol.